Secretary General of the European External Action Service (EEAS). Within EU institutions, Ms Schmid previously served as the deputy secretary general for political affairs (EEAS) and the director of the Policy Planning and Early Warning Unit of the High Representative for the CFSP (General Secretariat of the Council of the EU). Prior to that, Ms Schmid was the head of the political staff of the German Federal Foreign Office and the head of the Office of the German Minister for Foreign Affairs.